After sleeping for about sixteen hours, Stuart got up, still groggy. He didn't realize Ailene was just going to sleep for the first time after her fencing scare. He wouldn't learn it for close to two weeks. He would be both angry and relieved he wasn't told when he finally found out. He found Thorburn had risen before him and was working on the practice field with several of the men. He went into the kitchen for bread and meat before going out to join him. Thorburn halted his practice and sent the men off to other tasks.

"Good morning, sleepyhead. Bout time you got up."

"How can you be...